Next weekend (not this weekend), the NFL Draft is going to take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I thought I would surprise you all and not talk about golf or the Phillies and instead make this be mostly about football. It just seemed like a good week for a preview.
History is going to be made this year with five out of the first six picks of the draft being for quarterback choices. We already know that Trevor Lawrence, Clemsons quarterback, is going to be the first pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has a lot of expectations to live up to, as he has been projected to be the first pick for at least a year-and-a-half. This is not the norm. This happened with Peyton Manning and John Elway back in the day, so the pressure will be tough. The other quarterbacks that will be drafted high in the first round include Zach Wilson from BYU, Mac Jones from Alabama, Justin Fields from Ohio State, and from out of nowhere, Trey Lance from North Dakota State.
My favorite player in the draft is actually the running back from Alabama, Najee Harris. I wish the Philadelphia Eagles would have the guts to pick him at No. 12 because he reminds me of the Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, who also went to Alabama. But in the modern NFL, running backs do not get drafted very high in the first round because of their projected short careers. And the fact they get crushed almost every play doesn't help. I’ll be happy when the draft is actually over because I watch a lot of ESPN and that’s all they’re talking about for the past three months! I wish they would talk more about professional basketball and hockey because they’re close to the playoffs.
Spring sports for all the high schools has gone really well and Cape is right up there for making some of the playoffs. I have to give props to how the kids have all stepped up to all of the safety protocols. Go Vikings!
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A 2002 Cape grad and 2007 UD grad, Lewes resident Sumner Spence is one of the Cape area's biggest sports fans. Although he’s used a wheelchair his entire life, he has lived vicariously through his sports-playing father, brother, and friends, who gave him his love of sports. He hopes to provide new and interesting perspectives on the sports stories and issues of the day. Email Sumner at sumspence@gmail.com.
